HE HAS topped the charts with Blue but now Antony Costa is finding himself very much to 'go-to' guy when it comes to stage musicals.

Antony is currently touring the country in Save the Last Dance for Me which comes to Blackpool Opera House at the end of the month.

It will be a quick return to the resort for Antony who played Cousin Kevin in the Who's rock musical Tommy back in September last year.

"That was a great gig to do," said Antony. "I didn't know many of the songs apart from Pinball Wizard but what a great bunch of people. it was also nice being directed by Paul Nicholas, especially as he played my part in film."

Antony went for the audition for his current role in November.

"It was in producer Bill Kenwright's office and they offered it to me there and then," he said.

"But I had to keep quiet as they hadn't announced anything and were still doing some more auditions. I went straight into panto then after a couple of months off at the start of the year we started on working on this at the beginning of April.

"It's going really well and we're all looking forward to bringing it to Blackpool soon.

"You couldn't get more opposite end of the spectrum from Tommy than this. I don't play an absolute psycho for a start," he laughed.

"I play this nice, cheeky chappy American Air Force guy."

This requires Antony to put on a convincing American accent

"I don't blow my own trumpet very often," he said, "but I'm quite blessed at doing accents. The first part I got in Blood Brothers was as a Scouser, in fact the only part I've been a Londoner was in Boogie Nights.

Save the Last Dance features the songs of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and includes classics from the early Sixties such as Sweets for My Sweet, Can't Get Used to Losing You and Viva Las Vegas.

"The show is full of great songs from two of the greatest songwriters ever," said Antony.

"They are songs which will never be forgotten. It is so good to sing them every night, week in and week out and see audiences' faces and reactions.

"It's a brilliant time travelling musical which takes the audience back to what it was like in '60s. The plot is there surrounded by this great music.”

Antony plays Milton, one of two American airmen, who meet two sisters on their first holiday away from their parents and invite them to a dance at the airbase.

"It's 1962, the girls have never been on holiday before on their own, they are staying in a caravan in Lowestoft," said Antony.

"Marie and Kurt fall in love and it's then about their journey and how whether this interracial relationship can work out. Back in the day such things were very much frowned upon."

Also in the cast is Lola Saunders who shot to fame on X Factor and Antony has been quick to help her adjust to a stage role.

"I just said to her you have just got to keep going, keep learning and keep being positive and she's done just that.

"She's taken it all on board and been brilliant, she's an absolute joy to work with."

For all his success, Antony has always maintained his work ethic.

"You have always got to prove yourself," he said. " I never had the stage school background., I had my own life in terms of a music career but never had the luxury of going to amazing drama school, my life went in different direction.

"So for me from the first day of rehearsals in Blood Brothers 10 years ago I've always had to prove myself. I didn't want people thinking I'd got the job because of what I'd done. I got the job because I'd auditioned for it and been successful.

"Of course I've had knock backs since the Blue days. I've been for shows where I didn't get the part but that's life and you learn from the experience.

"You can't be complacent and think that just because you've had a number one hit you're the bees knees. That's just not the case

"I'm always trying to improve, I like proving people wrong."

Save the Last Dance for Me, Blackpool Opera House, Tuesday, May 31 to Saturday, June 4, details from 0844 856 1111. The show will also be at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, from Tuesday, August 12 to Saturday, August 17, details from 0844 871 3019.